BEHEMOTH Frontman Nergal - "The Scene Is Becoming The X-Factor For Black Metal"

February 6, 2014, a year ago

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BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal recently spoke with Ross Baker at Ghost Cult magazine. Following is an excerpt from the interview featuring Nergal's take on extreme metal.

Nergal: "Extreme art should be shocking and provoke a reaction. I really hope we are viewed as more than just a Black Metal band. We are an extreme band that can communicate our ideas on so many levels. Extreme Metal music these days is often only extreme by definition. It is a never-ending process of striving for perfection. Too many bands are chasing this and the scene is becoming like the X-Factor for Black Metal. There is no danger and unpredictability anymore. The majority of Death Metal bands from the U.S.A are so generic, they all sound perfect. It is fast and technical but there is no substance. Bands forget about emotion when they strive for perfection. You should be driven by your intuition and not just be concerned with shredding on your guitar. Perfection is boring and uninspiring."

"When people listen to The Satanist, it will stimulate them in many different ways. I saw Cabaret at the theatre recently and it was extremely moving. Extreme art must make people uncomfortable whether it is music, art or films. It has to be thought provoking. It takes a lot of energy for me to do this. I remember after my transplant when we started playing shows again. There was a time I thought I was going to pass out on-stage because it was so taxing playing the show and I did not have as much energy as before but now I am ready. I know I can give my all to this.”

Behemoth has posted the final Making Of video for The Satanist. This clip is the fourth in a series of four that chronicles a selection of the creative and technical processes behind the album. Nergal simply offers the following statement: "The Satanist is magic. It's dangerous. It's adventurous, and it's organic."

Check out all four clips below:

The Satanist will be released on February 3rd in Europe/UK, February 4th in North America and Poland, February 5th in Japan and February 7th rest of world.

The Satanist was produced by Behemoth, Wojtek and Slawek Wieslawscy and Daniel Bergstrand in Hertz Studio and was mixed by Matt Hyde (SLAYER) and mastered by Ted Jensen (METALLICA, AC/DC) at Sterling Sound. The cover art, is a painting by renowned Russian painter and occultist, Denis Forkas. For the cover, Nergal's own blood was included in the paint. Additional artwork was handled by Metastazis (PARADISE LOST) and Zbigniew Bielak (WATAIN, GHOST).

The Satanist tracklisting:

'Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel'

'Furor Divinus'

'Messe Noire'

'Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer'

'Amen'

'The Satanist'

'Ben Sahar'

'In the Absence Ov Light'

'O Father O Satan O Sun!'

'Ora Pro Nobis Lusifer' lyric video:

The Grupa 13 produced video for 'Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel' is one of Behemoth's most unsettling and unique works to date.

Nergal discusses the video: "Yes, we took all the time in the world to complete this project. And we did everything that was humanely possible to accurately express our vision. We crossed the Rubicon. "Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel" is an ecstatic manifest of our unrestrained artistic will, where we dare to reach out beyond the limitations of the heavy metal genre. And it's only the beginning…Enjoy!"

The limited edition (2,000 copies: 1,000 white and 1,000 black, 180 gram vinyl) 12" EP of 'Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel' is out now via Behemoth/New Aeon Musick in Europe as a gatefold with each copy hand numbered and signed by the band. The 12" EP contains the first single off of The Satanist, plus two non-album tracks: If I Were Cain and a cover from Polish Post-Punk New Wave legendary band SIEKIERA - Ludzie Wschodu.

Behemoth will embark on a headlining tour of Europe beginning on February 7th with CRADLE OF FILTH, IN SOLITUDE, INQUISITION and SVARTTJERN. In April they will be headlining the Metal Alliance Tour 2014 with GOATWHORE, 1349, INQUISITION and BLACK CROWN INITIATE.